Johnson uses US to lean on EU

BORIS JOHNSON will set out his aims for US and EU trade deals on the same day to pile pressure on Brussels for a swift agreement.

By publishing the strategies for deals with the US and EU on the same day the hope is that the UK can avoid becoming “trapped” by Brussels negotiators in the same way that Theresa May was.

The plan hinges on the UK making progress with the US which can then be used to pressure the EU to agree a deal. Ministers have told The Daily Telegraph that they want the outline terms of a trade deal with the US agreed by July, after which Donald Trump is set to focus his time on his re-election

The Prime Minister is then widely expected to fly to Washington for a bilateral meeting with the president.

Mr Johnson is also set to deliver a speech at the beginning of next month – days after the UK leaves the EU on Jan 31 – when No10 sources said he would not mention the word “Brexit”. No10 is hoping it will allow the UK to turn the page on the past three years of division. is a member of the Independent

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